Whitney Plantation to Host 10th Annual Ancestral Blessing Ceremony on February 22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:

Amy Marquis

Director of Communications

Whitney Plantation

(504) 447-4076

amarquis@whitneyplantation.org 

EDGARD, LA — February 13, 2025 — In honor of Black History Month, Whitney Plantation will host its 10th Annual Ancestral Blessing Ceremony on Saturday, February 22 from 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

This annual event pays tribute to the resilience and legacy of the enslaved people who once lived and labored on the plantation, offering a space for remembrance, healing, and reflection.

“Our annual Blessing Ceremony is a powerful day to remember and honor the people who were enslaved at Whiney Plantation,” said Executive Director Ashley Rogers. “It is a healing day of prayer, libations and song that is welcoming to everyone.”

Event Details:

📅 Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025

⏰ Time: 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

📍 Location: Whitney Plantation, 5099 Highway 18, Edgard, LA

🎟️ Admission: Free for the blessing ceremony; guided and self-guided tours available for an additional fee.

This year’s ceremony will feature the inaugural public viewing of “Hope Out of Darkness,” a striking statue of Solomon Northup created by renowned sculptor Wesley Wofford. Northup, a free man born in New York in 1807, was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana in 1841. His harrowing journey and eventual freedom are immortalized in his memoir, Twelve Years a Slave. Wofford’s sculpture captures the duality of Northup’s life—his left hand clutching a bundle of papers that symbolize both his free legal documents and the memoir that later secured his legacy. The statue will be permanently displayed at the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse in 2026, with its first public unveiling taking place at Whitney Plantation.

Following the unveiling, at 1:00 p.m., the Ancestral Blessing Ceremony will be led by Sister Sula, Baba Luther, and the Congo Square Drummers. This deeply moving ritual will honor the strength, endurance, and cultural contributions of those who were enslaved at Whitney Plantation and beyond. Through drumming, song, and spiritual reverence, attendees will join in a communal act of remembrance and respect.

This event is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to experience the full program. Those interested in exploring Whitney Plantation’s powerful exhibits and historic grounds may do so before or after the ceremony by purchasing a guided or self-guided tour ticket.

For more information about this event, visit whitneyplantation.org or contact Director of Communications Amy Marquis at (504) 447-4076 or amarquis@whitneyplantation.org.

About Whitney Plantation 

Whitney Plantation is the only museum in Louisiana dedicated to telling the history of slavery from the enslaved perspective. Through immersive exhibits, historic site preservation, and educational programs, Whitney Plantation strives to foster a deeper understanding of the legacy of slavery and its lasting impact on American society. Learn more at whitneyplantation.org.

Photo credits for Blessing Ceremony images: Photo courtesy of Whitney Plantation Museum.

Photo credit for Solomon Northup statue: Photo courtesy of Odyssey Wofford from Wofford Sculpture Studio